Hand weeding-tool.



N0. 653,0l9. Patented July 3, 1900.

W. L. FAXUN.

HAND WEEDINE TODL.

(Application filed Nov. 11, 1899.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PAT NT OF IC WILLIAM FAXON, OF 'MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, A SS IGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CORNELIUS I-I. LEONARD 'AND THQMAS S. IIODGSON, OF SAME PLACE, AND ISAAC SAMPSON, OFLAKEVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

luau o vvgsoi NG -T.oo

srnelrrce'rron forming art of Letters ratent No. 53,019, dated July 3,1900.

I Application filed November 11, 1899. Serial N0. 736,645. illo model.) V

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, .WILLnjiM L. FAXON, of

Middleborough, in the. county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented 5 certain new and useful Improvements in Hand \Veeding-Tools, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention has for its object to provide a simple and effieient implement adapted to be wielded by one hand of the operator and to rapidly and effectively withdraw weeds, in-

cluding the roots, from the ground or sever the tops from the roots below the surface of the ground.

The invention also has for its object to provide a tool of the character mentioned with a handle which shall be sufficiently flexible to prevent cramping of the fingers when the tool is continuously grasped for a consider- 2o able period of time.

The invention also has for its object to pro-' vide a weeding-tool adapted to be held in the hand and at the same time permit the com.-

paratively-free use of the thumb and fingers in performing work for which the weeder is not required, the weeder being at the same time held in the handin readiness for use.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe. and

claim.

9 0f the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a top view of a weeding-tool embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a bottom view 5 of the same. Fig. 3 represents an edge view.

Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4 4 of Fig.

1. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5 5 of The same letters of reference indicate the 0 same parts in all the figures.

My improved weeding-tool comprises an elongated blade d, having teeth or serrations a," on one of its longer edges, the back of the blade being preferably curved downwardly, as indicated at a in Fig. .4, to impart sufficient stiifness to the blade to enable it to be forced through the ground and exert the desired degree of force u'pon'the roots of weeds. The blade a is preferably made of sheet metal and with it is integrally formed a handle b,- which is anextension of the blank from which theblade is formed','said extension being bent into the form of ailtube adapted to be readily form that it can readilymove through the grasped in the hand. The edges b bof the extension from whiphthe handle I) is formed are preferably slightly offset from each other, as shown inFig. 5,so that the tubular handleis slightly yielding or compressible. I have found that this yielding handle enables the tool to be grasped and held for a long period of time without as much fatigue and without the liability of cramping the fingers which would be involved if the handle were rigid.

The handle is inclined-relatively to the blade and stands at an obtuse angletherewith, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the blade is being worked in a horizontal position at and below the surface of the ground the part of the handle with which the hand is in contact will be sufficiently elevated above the ground to enable the fingers to clear the ground. In otherzwords, when the handle is held in an inclined'position above the surface of the ground the blade projects horizontally from the lower end of the handle away from the grip portion or the handle. The lower portion of the handle is beveled at N, forming a narrow neck b which connects the bandle with the blade, this neck being of such ground when the blade ct is working below the surface.

The tool described is or may be operated by the grasp, as indicated in Fig. 3, where the dotted lines show the position of the thumb and fingers. The plane of the blade is snfficiently below the thumb and fingers when the blade is held horizontally to enable it to be moved back and forth below the surface 0 of. the ground, the serrations enabling the roots of weeds to be either pulled out or cut oil, as may be desired, and all without raising or removing the surface of the ground. The roots of spreading grass may be easily out off bythis improved tool and the grass removed without disturbing plants in close proximity. Plants such as beets, carrots, onions, &c., can

2 eeeme he thinned out with the improved weedei", and the removed plantsean he withdmwn from the row without the use of the thumb and finger, v

The weeder is so eenstruoted that it can be retained in-the hand, while a generali-use'of the hand forother purposes is permitted without releasingthe hold on the w'eeder;

I claim 1. A weeding implemel t com rising a grip or hendleformed to he lfeld in t%e hand, and an elongated blade formegi 311a 1 projecting from one'endof the handle anii hjvieg a serrated longer edge, the blade a ndi its serrated ed ge standing at an obtuse angle with-the hair die and constituting an extenion thereof, the relative arrangement of the handle and blade being such that'when' the handle is held-in an inclined position above the surfaeeoif the grojuni-the hlade. projects horizontally from nature in preseeee of the lower end of the handle, away from the grip portion thereof.

2. A weeqlingimplement eomprlsinga blade.

metal blade, and a sheet metel handle kite-- gral therewith, the blade having a serrated front edge end. a, iiownwardly-enrved rear edge, while the handle is inclined relatively to thehle'de anzi is approximately tubular enfi elastic or compressible in cross-section.

In testimony whereof-I have aifixed my sigtwo witnesses;

'WiLLiAM L. F XoN'I Wit-n esses:

F. W. HAYDEN, R. A, BROWN, 

